Letter: Northern Pass: bad for the economy, environment

I am a senior at Gilford High School and have been learning about a proposed transmission line to bring hydroelectricity from Canada into the New England energy grid through the White Mountains, called the Northern Pass. Although I understand the demand for energy and the preference for clean power, this is not the solution. Its creation would hurt the environment and the economy.

The Northern Pass would require about 40 miles of new corridors passing through a national forest and Fish and Wildlife refuge. The construction may disrupt the unique wildlife of the region, driving animals away and harming plant species. The towers will be about 85 feet high and 800 feet apart, often being the only large infrastructure in sight, disrupting New Hampshire’s famous scenic views. These outlooks contribute to making tourism the second-largest industry in the state. If they are obstructed or blemished, the revenue from tourism will go down.

Another effect of the Northern Pass would be the degradation of property values. It is already being witnessed in the North Country, where proposed plans have made people worried about the future.

Also, many organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club, Conservation New Hampshire, The Nature Conservancy, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association, Ammonusuc Conservation Trust, and Conservation Law Foundation have expressed concern and opposition to this project, along with 30 towns.

Please contact your state representatives and your state senator, and urge them to oppose the Northern Pass.

NP is a National Security issue. This critically important infrastructure is as crucial as the Keystone pipeline to the economic security of the USA. For the USA to recover from the Obama depression will require abundant cheap reliable power to spur essential economic growth. It is simply unpatriotic to push visual purism over the future of the USA.